Wednesday, June 04, 2014

Apraxia and All Things Special Needs

My son was diagnosed with Apraxia and SID/SPD at the age of 2 1/2. We had known for some time that there was something different about A. As the youngest of 5 (at that time), it was easy for us to note the differences in his development when compared to the four who came before. He has since been diagnosed with ADHD, Dysgraphia, and Dyslexia (now known as "specific learning disorder in the area of reading"). Having moved to two different states and countries since his first diagnosis, we have become extraordinary familiar with the special needs education system in the U.S. (which varies widely by state) and within the State Department (which offers amazing support - one of the best perks of being an FSO, IMO). I hope this page can offer some assistance to other parents both in understanding what it means to have a special needs child and also in how to best advocate for your special child. You can read about our journey with A (so far) here.Acronyms
IEP - Individual Education Plan
ST - Speech Therapy/Therapist
OT - Occupational Therapy/Therapist
SID - Sensory Integration Disorder
SPD - Sensory Processing Disorder
PT - Physical Therapy/Therapist
ADHD - Attention Deficit Hyperactive Disorder
LD - Learning Disorder
IDEA - Individuals with Disabilities Education Act

About Me

This nonsensical blog details bits and pieces of the life of a: Wife, Mommy, Foreign Service Officer, Military Reservist, Foodie Extraordinaire, and Exercise Addict. Any content can be assumed to be inane, meaningless, possibly offensive, and in no way represents anyone's opinion but my own.